221
Medical Branch, (C.A.),
Room 110,
Hong Kong Bank Bldg.,
HONG KONG.
2nd Feb. 1946
Dear Mr. Sloss,
About two weeks ago the C. in C. asked me to go up to Govern- ment House to let hi: know the present position with regard to the Univ- ersity. He had just visited Lingnam University in Canton and found them anxious to assistH.K.U. in any way possible. I told him that Lingnam were helping us materially by taking some 25 or 30 of our former students as "loan" or "transfer" students, but that I was not in favour of the w wholesale transference of our students and staff to Canton as a temporary measure in lieu of opening our own University here. Lingnam would like to make their University 50% Chinese, 25% American and 25% British, and would welcome funds and staff from us to achieve the latter object. I told Admiral Harcourt that I thought an early revival of our own University was most desirable, both from the point of view of British prestige in the Far East and also on account of the encouraging effect which such a course would have on the morale of the whole Colony. I told him of the letter and report which I had sent you by the hand of Mr. Hazelrigg (dated 10th December), a copy of which he had already seen, and he asked me to see him again after Mr. Hazelrigg's return. He also added that he would like to see the University for himself. On Monday of this week the C.in C paid a visit to the University, accompanied by D.F. Davis and myself. He made a full inspection and showed considerable interest in re-starting the University at an early date. Afterwards he drafted a personal tele- gram to yourself worded as follows:
From Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt
Το Colonial Office for D. J. Sloss
After inspection of University I am in favour of immediate rehabil itation of certain buildings and propose accordingly to take such steps as are possible under present limitations. Urge reopening in October and prior return of staff members who are fit and within age limit. Suggest also that new personnel be engaged to fill vac- ancies caused by de áth or retirement. Suggest immediate placing of orders for textbooks, apparatus and equipment. As soon as you have set the above in motion your presence in Hong Kong will be of inestimable value.
In practical terms we would propose to make a start by rehab- ilitatingpart or whole of the Northcote Science Block. The C. in C. thought that portions of the Peel Engineering Lab. and Ho Tung Workshop could be used as emergency lecture rooms. Ricci Hall is intact and per- haps one of the Hostels up the hill could be renovated students living hard in dormitory fashion, and possibly usinf double-decker bunks as many of them did in China. It may be years before we can return to pre- war standards and luxuries. Your former house might be used as a Staff Hostel and a few of the other staff residencesccould be put in order.
-
It would be feasible to start 1st Year Me icine, Science and Arts classes in October if we could get the necessary staff together. There should be plenty of young men now being demobilised who are anxious to take up University teaching careers. There are some here, and I enclose a letter from Captain Cadogan Edwards. There is another Captain Mellor, who might be quite an acquisition. I very much hope that you, yourself, will feel diposed to come back, if only for a short period, to be present during the critical stage of setting the machinery in motion again. I
feel it is almost essential that you should be here to direct the early operations as there is no one else who has the necessary background and
contacts.
The most pressing problem is staff. I do not know how many of the former staff will be returning. We need a registrar badly. Is Boxer coming back? By good luck we have recovered the Iniversity XXXXMANX Enrol- ment List from Jan. 1936 to May 1940, and the complete Admissi on Lists This will simplify a good with Application Forms for Sept. 1941.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.